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South Korea's Trade Surplus Falls,
Due to Rise in Energy Import Costs

Dow Jones Newswires

Updated June 23, 2000 4:21 a.m. ET

SEOUL, South Korea -- The trade surplus narrowed to $1.35 billion in May, from $1.97 billion the same period last year, helped by a continued increase in imports, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said Friday.

The country's exports rose 28.1% from the year-ago month, to $14.63 billion -- the largest ever rise in that month, the ministry said in its final report. Sharp rises in exports of petrochemical, steel,...